Two men from Staines have been sentenced to life in jail after being convicted of murdering jewellery designer and antiques dealer Michael Griffiths, who was tortured at his home in West Sussex.

Harvey Munford, of Monks Way, and Zack Cowdrey, of Meadway, were found guilty at Hove Crown Court on Tuesday following a trial.

Each will serve a minimum of 32 years in prison before being able to apply for parole.

Mr Griffiths, from Old Glebe, Fernhurst, was described by his brother, Martin Griffiths, as a "wonderful, fun-loving person" who had "never been in a fight with anyone in his life".

The 59-year-old was found tied up and dead in his burning home in January last year. He had been left with serious injuries to his head and body before being discovered by firefighters.

'Prolonged and serious assault'

Sussex Police said Munford and Cowdrey were part of a "ruthless gang of criminals" who targeted Mr Griffiths for "the contents of his life's work".

Detective Chief Inspector Jeff Riley said: "They did research on the internet to locate him, they conducted reconnaissance on his home [by] making a number of trips to Fernhurst.

"They also attempted to force their way in by purporting to be police officers on the day preceding his death."

But DCI Riley said that when Mr Griffiths was "not easy to fool" with the ruse on January 22, the gang returned the next day and lay in wait for him while he was out.

"The issue for them was that they needed Michael to be present so that they could gain access to the contents of his safe," he said.

"He was subjected to a prolonged and serious assault that ended in him losing his life. He was callously left tied up by those responsible, not caring if he was still alive or dead."

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Cowdrey, 24, had admitted manslaughter, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and conspiracy to burgle but denied murder. Munford, 23, had also admitted manslaughter and denied murder.

Their co-defendant, Simon Penton, 43, of Markway in Sunbury, admitted conspiracy to burgle Mr Griffiths' home - plus others in Godalming as well as Loxwood and Poynings in Sussex - but denied murder and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Penton was convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and sentenced to 26 years' imprisonment.

Kerry Rudder, 43, also from Markway, was found not guilty of murder, two counts of conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. She was convicted on two other counts of conspiracy to burgle - both unrelated to the death of Mr Griffiths - and was jailed for three years.

Damian Krafft, 27, of High Street, Shepperton, was cleared of murder, manslaughter and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to burgle and also received a three-year prison term.

John Bartholomew, 72, of Centurion House, Portsmouth, was found not guilty of murder and conspiracy to commit burglary, while Rebecca Rogers, 39, from Shepperton, was cleared of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Mr Griffiths' brother, Martin, said: “There are no words to describe the effect that night had on Michael’s family.

“Not a day goes by when we don’t think of Michael and the terrible injuries that were inflicted on him.

“We now live in a world of greed and violence and no sentence can begin to make up for the offence.”

Handing down the sentences, Judge Michael Lawson said Cowdrey, Munford and Penton "showed no remorse and continue to show no remorse" and that he was "shocked by their inhumanity".

The judge described the police investigation and said that just six weeks after Mr Griffiths' death, evidence from Munford’s internet history showed website searches for terms such as locksmith tools, gadgets to disable alarms and the quickest way to kill people.

Judge Lawson said: “There was a complete plan to cause some harm to Mr Griffiths.

"He was overpowered to get to the valuable property you thought was in his safe.

"When Mr Griffiths entered he was stunned and hog-tied in the most unpleasant fashion and then force was exerted on him in the hope he would give up the location of the key."

'Callous disregard for life'

The gang attempted to dispose of and destroy any items that could link them to the crime, including clothing, mobile phones and even a motor vehicle they travelled in.

Judge Lawson added: "No time was wasted in returning to the house and destroying evidence.

“Mr Munford poured petrol on the ground floor and on Mr Griffiths himself."

The judge said Penton’s "culpability was so high" in the planning and recruiting and he was an integral party to the destruction of evidence.

“You were ready to allow Mr Griffiths to be subjected to violence," Judge Lawson said.

DCI Riley concluded that he had "rarely witnessed such callous disregard for life".